Room for Improvement: Gallery Wall

WSVN -- Martin Amado: "We all have beautiful photographs that capture special moments in our lives, so on today's Room for Improvement, I'm going to show you how to incorporate them into your home's decor, creating the perfect gallery wall. Let's begin."

Martin Amado: "This is the perfect do-it-yourself project to display your photographs, and here are the supplies that you'll need."

Martin Amado: "Display ledges, photo mats, picture frames in different sizes, newspaper, masking tape. The basic tools, such as a hammer, a level and measuring tape, and of course, the photographs are a must."

Martin Amado: "I love giving a gallery more visual interest by incorporating frames in different sizes. And remember, even if you have an original small print to begin with, such as a 3" by 5", you can simply scan it in your home computer and enlarge it to an 8" by 10". You can also print it out in sepia or maybe black and white to achieve that classic look."

Martin Amado: "Another good tip to highlight some of the photographs is to use a photo mat. It also helps to give it a custom frame look."

Martin Amado: "Now comes the most creative part, which is coming up with the layout for the design. I like starting off with the biggest frame first, creating my focal point, and then, I incorporate the smaller frames around that one."

Martin Amado: "So this is my first choice, but because my wall is actually wider, I'm tweaking my design a bit."

Martin Amado: "So, this is one way of coming up with the design layout, and all we simply need to do now is basically take all the measurements for the frames and transfer them directly onto the wall. But if you're still afraid of making a mistake and opening up too many holes, I have another option for you."

Martin Amado: "Using a newspaper, you can create an outline of your frames and then simply place it on the wall to help you visualize the layout."

Martin Amado: "The display ledges help give the entire design more depth."

Martin Amado: "So some frames I can actually hang on the wall, and then lean the other right up against it on the ledge."

Martin Amado: "Another decorative way to hang a frame is to use a decorative ribbon like this one."

Martin Amado: "Now, because the hook will be exposed, you have to use a decorative one like this one. Nice."

Martin Amado: "And now, you know the secret to creating a beautiful gallery wall that highlights all the special moments captured in time in a decorative way. And if you notice, I did use different frames, but what keeps the entire design unified, believe it or not, are the decorative ledges. It really turns the installation into a true work of art. Until next time, I'm Martin Amado for Room for Improvement."

If you want a makeover for a minimum price, you can get in touch with Martin by calling him at 305-576-HOME or 954-962-HOME, or you can e-mail him at room@wsvn.com.